Hey everyone. Today I was facing the insurmountable decision of having to choose between Stanford and Harvard. I kept flipping back and forth, providing myself with reasons for either school, but I accepted Harvard.
I loved Stanford’s weather, but I also love variations in seasons and enjoy the snow. I love physics, and both schools are great for it, but I also might want to go into engineering, specifically mechanical and aerospace, and Stanford blows Harvard out of the water for that. I also have interests in investment banking, and both are great for that, with Harvard having the slight edge. I really enjoyed both Visitas and Admit Weekend, and I met very cool people at both.
For some weird reason, my emotions kept tugging me over to Harvard, and I have no clue why. I surmise it’s due to the city (I liked Boston a lot more than Palo Alto, though the Stanford experience isn’t super affected by Palo Alto), but I also don’t like to think that I chose Harvard for that brand name prestige.
My parents are both really mad at me. We’re an immigrant family, and they envisioned me having a successful, high paying career by majoring in MechE at Stanford. They’re now telling me I’ll be some crummy liberal arts guy who works behind the counter or some business dude slaving way at his miserable life… It honestly makes me feel like an idiot for choosing Harvard… This is not some pity or pretentious post - I’m not going for that. I just feel confused and lost.
Your parents are mad at you for accepting admission to Harvard?! That’s kind of ridiculous. It was your choice to make (and Harvard graduates tend to do pretty well in life,too). You can always go somewhere else for your masters.
Cliche as it sounds, I’m sure you will do great and go far in life no matter what school you chose. Both schools accepted you, which just speaks to how amazing you are and how great you will be. Do not beat yourself up over going to Harvard. Seriously.
You’re not an idiot. You made a rational, informed choice, with a little emotion thrown in. Your parents, quite frankly are being silly.
Congrats to you.
If your parent’s are mad at you for choosing Harvard they should be ashamed of themselves. If they wanted or expected you to study engineering that was a conversation you should have had before you sent in applications. You had to amazing choices between two of the absolute top schools in the country and you went with your gut. There is absolute no bad choice here and you should not feel bad or second guess yourself for one second. Go order that Harvard t-shirt and make the most of your next 4 years.
@myactualname They believe I’m stupid because I have some interest in the field of engineering, yet I declined Stanford, which is obviously superior to Harvard in every way at engineering.
Idk. Clearly Harvard is a fantastic school, and they get that, but they believe I’m stupid for choosing H, especially if I had any hope of becoming an engineer. And now they’re sentiments are starting to make sense 
This should be a day of celebration for you - from your post it seems you chose Harvard because it was what you wanted - is that correct? You are on the one going to college, it is your four years and your life. I know kids hate to let their parents down, and immigrant parents, in particular, tend to have these pre-conceived notions that are often not the most accurate, but if Harvard is what you want, then you made the right choice - for YOUR future. You get one life, this is your decision. Own it, it’s yours. Congrats!
Are you having decision remorse? It’s a big one, no doubt, heck I have a hard time deciding on what kind of car to buy. Did you decline Stanford or just accept Harvard?
Come on over to my house, kid…we throw parties over here for kids who get into Harvard!
Hey, your parents are being crazy right now but cut them some slack…they’re going to be embarrassed when they look back & remember this.
Great congratulations on your amazing accomplishment…astonishing things are ahead for you (at the very least, you’re going to have a great story to tell at parties when you’re in your 30s…“yeah, my parents were upset because all i could get into was Harvard”).
As a Harvard student you can cross enroll at MIT…
@CADREAMIN I did both. I first accepted Harvard, then went over to my other schools (Stanford, Princeton, Columbia, and UT Austin) and declined them all. There’s no going back.
@Mastadon It’s just not the same to have to go all the way to MIT just to take some more technical courses when I could’ve had it all at Stanford. It’s just the area I enjoyed a lot at Harvard; the whole vibe, really. I liked the urban setting and feel of the campus situated within Boston.
I have no doubt that if you decided this was a mistake, you could call Stanford tomorrow and switch. They are humans…not robots! In your heart of hearts, decide what is right for you!
Lol. Am I reading fan fiction here?. Just saying…
@doubleslit : Your post #10 says it all to me. Yes, there were some rational reason to choose Stanford, but YOU are the one choosing where YOU will spend the next four years, and I bet you will have a great time. Yes, you can call Stanford tomorrow, but they are two VERY different places. My daughter chose Dartmouth over Harvard in part because the urban environment was a bit too much. For you, it sounds like a good fit. And, of course, Silicon Valley firms never hire people from Harvard. [Apply sarcasm attribute liberally.]
Harvard is decent in Engineering and if you see a course at MIT that H does not offer, you can supplement your Harvard education. But stop beating yourself up – Harvard is the most famous school in the world, with like 400 years of history and prestige poured into that name. It’s the one non-athletic school whose name everyone knows. Lots and lots of kids would give their eye teeth to be in your shoes.
If you work hard, your degree will say “Harvard” on it. Think about that. Also remember, before it was HYPSM, it was H. Then HY. Then HYP.
Now, think about all the reasons you chose Harvard – reasons you listed above, whichvtell me you feel H is the better fit. Fit is huge, and if you chose according to fit, you chose wisely,
Congrats! I hope your parents come to their senses soon and understand that you chose the school that was right for YOU. There was no bad choice here. I still can’t over the fact that they are mad at you for choosing Harvard… That’s a first! Best of luck to you!
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They're now telling me I'll be some crummy liberal arts guy who works behind the counter or some business dude slaving way at his miserable life... It honestly makes me feel like an idiot for choosing Harvard...
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Oh good heavens. If you do eng’g at Harvard, you’ll still be very well employed.
What’s with their liberal arts comment? Wouldn’t you be majoring in eng’g at Harvard??
Yes, S has “better eng’g” but really, it doesn’t matter. My cousin’s son graduated from S in MechE and he’s not earning any more than his colleagues who went to UCs.
Go Crimson!
@mom2collegekids At Harvard, I’ll likely do physics or attempt to do a double concentration in physics and econ.
^ A phsyics/econ double major would also require a lot of math background. The combination of physics and math would provide a strong foundation for engineering. Add in a few engineering courses (at Harvard, or possibly at MIT) and you would probably be well positioned to do a MSc in Aerospace Engineering if you still wanted to go in that direction. Engineers with multidisciplinary backgrounds and business/econ skills are often in high demand.